The Hot Springs Convention Center and Visit Hot Springs are hosting Spa-Con, a multi-genre entertainment and comic convention to be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center Friday, Sept 23 from 6 p.m. (registration at 5 p.m). to Sunday evening, Sept. 25.
According to its website, Spa-Con encourages attendees to “get your personal brand of geek on!” More than comic books and sci-fi or fantasy-related film and television, this Spa-Con also promises pop culture and entertainment elements spanning genres, such as: horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, action figures, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, fantasy novels and more.
Over 130 vendors, artists, and entertainers will be present, including stars Lori Petty of Point Break, A League of Their Own, Tank Girl, Orange Is the New Black; Beau Billingsly, voice of Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop; Mark Rolston of Aliens, Lethal Weapon and Shawshank Redemption; Rodger Bumpass voice of Squidward from Spongebob and Ashlie Adkinson, native Arkansan stage actor. Featured guest artists also include the following: mask maker Tony Buck, illustrator Chris Meeks, graphic designer and creator of the Spa-Con poster Chad Maupin, illustrator Rodney Ramos and animator Tom Cook.
Attractions not to miss are the Stranger Things Hawkins van, the Supernatural Car, a Laser Tag Arena and the Robo World Battle Bots.
Further exciting weekend highlights are as follow:
Friday, Sept. 23
- 6 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
- 7 p.m. – Bit Brigade Concert
- 8:30 p.m. – VIP Party
Saturday, Sept. 24
- 10 a.m. – CASA Superhero Parade led by 501st Legion
- 10 a.m. – Expo Hall Opens
- 10 a.m. – Saturday Morning Cartoons with Tom Cook
- 10 a.m. – FX Sculpting Masks Workshop with Tony Buck
- 10:30 a.m. – Kids Cosplay Showcase with Gregory Harris
- 11 a.m. – Laser Tag Opens
- 12 p.m. – Q & A with Lori Petty
- 1 p.m. – Free Photo Ops with Lori Petty
- 1 p.m. – Spa-Con Showdown Tournament Begins
- 2 p.m. – VIP Meet and Greet with Lori Petty, Beau Billingslea and Mark Rolston
- 2 p.m. – Chainmail Mesh Workshop with Cowbutt Crunchies
- 2 p.m. – How to Join the 501st Legion
- 3 p.m. – Open Portrait Session
- 3 p.m. – Q & A with Beau Billingslea
- 4 p.m. – Free Photo Ops with Beau Billingslea
- 4 p.m. – Cosplay Contest Pre-Judging Begins
- 7 p.m. – Cosplay Club and Contest
- 8:30 p.m. – VIP Party
Sunday, Sept. 25
- 10 a.m. – Expo Hall Opens
- 10 a.m. – Inking for Comics Workshop with Rodney Ramos
- 11 a.m. – Laser Tag Opens
- 11 a.m. – Ways to Enhance & Add Detail to Your Foam Builds with Bruce Holt and Cheeky Cheetah
- 12 p.m. – Big Wigs: Advanced Wig Styling with Notgrima
- 12 p.m. – Dating Game with Nerd Informants
- 1 p.m. – Q & A with Mark Rolston
- 2 p.m. – VIP Meet and Greet with Mark Rolston
- 2 p.m. – Sorting Hat with The Pocket Theater
- 4 p.m. – SpaCademy Awards
- 5 p.m. – VIP Party
While VIP passes have sold out, early weekend passes are still available online for $35 ($45 if purchased in person). The first 1,000 pass-holders receive a Spa-Con tote bag, Spa-Con t-shirt, and Spa-Con laminate. Day passes for Saturday or Sunday only will be available in September and cost $20. Guests aged five years and under are free accompanied by a paying adult.
For more information about the weekend’s full lineup and activity listings, as well as to purchase advance passes, please visit the Spa-Con website.
READ ALSO: ‘Pretty Woman: The Musical’ Makes its Arkansas Debut in Fayetteville